Opinion

Opinion: U.S. not ready for Hillary

I expected nothing but effusive praise from major media for Hillary Clinton’s new book, “Hard Choices,” much like the mass exaltation it showered on Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president.

Initially that seemed where the reviews were headed.

Prior to the book’s official release June 10, the “journalists” on CBS “This Morning” spent nine minutes of barely restrained excitement promoting Clinton’s book. Host Charlie Rose called it “a portrait of doggedness.” CBS News political director John Dickerson said the book portrays “a hardworking person who flew all around the world grinding it out.”

The same might be said of Miley Cyrus.

Dickerson added, “The volume of this book is meant in a political context to suggest that the voters can put the world in her hands. She sees the complexity and understands it.”

This suggests a possible campaign theme song: “She’s got the whole world in her hands.”

For reasons yet to be determined — maybe they read the book; I admit I’ve only read excerpts at this point — the liberal worms began to turn. Dickerson subsequently reversed himself, calling the book “a risk-free telling of Clinton’s world travels” and a “low-salt, low-fat, low-calorie offering with vanilla pudding as the dessert. She goes on at great length, but not great depth.”

David Ignatius, a foreign policy writer for The Washington Post, said Mrs. Clinton “is seen as hesitant to take big risks,” and “There are times when the reader feels he is being spun, rather than enlightened,” and “In these many hundreds of pages, there are very few deals concluded, agreements signed, policies brought to fruition.” Ignatius added that Mrs. Clinton is “well-stocked with campaign bromides.”

The Washington Post published a poll earlier this month that showed 59 percent of those interviewed have a favorable view of Clinton’s leadership as secretary of state. Yet no one seems able to cite any real accomplishments. When asked a few weeks ago in a news conference about Clinton’s accomplishments, Jen Psaki, the State Department’s chief spokesperson, couldn’t answer. Psaki returned the next day loaded with “examples,” which seemed to have been prepared for her by a Clinton operative. Still, the examples did not impress.

The Republican National Committee has provided a counterpoint to Hillary Clinton’s book, giving it the cheeky title “Bad Choices.” It compiles what diplomats, commentators and even a few media people have said about her. Surprisingly, NBC political director Chuck Todd (a former aide to Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa) said: “Frankly, many of the issues from her time at the department have either stayed bad, or gotten worse.”

Curiously, writes Byron York, columnist for the Washington Examiner, the book ignores Hillary’s brief Senate career, perhaps because its one distinguishing mark was her vote in favor of George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. She now says that vote was a “mistake.” Senators have a bigger margin for error than presidents.

If she runs, it will be difficult, but not impossible, for a male Republican candidate to debate and defeat her. In addition to being supported by much of the media, she will have the support of a substantial number of women just because of the historical factor.

Still, a Republican male candidate might gain traction if he points out that we will be finishing two terms of a president who has mastered style over substance. Can we really afford another when we face so many problems, not to mention Hillary’s poor track record as first lady (health care defeated), secretary of state (a frequent flyer but little else) and senator (nothing)?

“Ready for Hillary” is the name of an “unauthorized” super PAC formed by Clinton supporters last January. The assumption is that we’ll answer in the affirmative. But given her abysmal record, if that is what she’s being judged on, we’re definitely not ready.

Comments

And yet according to Cal, we were plenty ready for Sarah Palin. LJW why does your editor or anybody take stock in what this fascist says about politics? His background is extreme right wing fundamentalist Christianity which somehow became conflated with world political issues. Can we just lose this wingnut's column and Krauthammer too? Surely there's a more moderate conservative writer out there somewhere. Somebody who can construct a readable sentence, as opposed to George Will.

"U.S. does not give one whit about Cal Thomas". This clown has been around for a while and the Koch Regime ownership of this news rag loves him. What would you expect?? I think Hillary would make a great president and shield from the fascist right wingers that are seeking to take over the government. Anyone remember Germany in the 1930's? Perhaps a little investigation of the history books would be beneficial.